Pelicans GM Dell Demps is in a challenging spot. What is clear is that the New Orleans roster needs an overhaul. What is rumored is that Demps’ job is in jeopardy (and Joe Dumars is waiting in the wings to take over this summer, at the behest of Mickey Loomis). In this spot, a lot of GMs go for quick-fix moves trying to bring in guys that can help the team win now and maybe save their jobs, even when the better play for the franchise are deals looking farther into the future.

Before the injury, sources say the Pelicans were exploring trade offers for Gordon. There is still a chance the Pelicans could look to trade Gordon before the Feb. 18 deadline if they can find a willing team. Gordon was the only Pelicans’ player to start 40 of the first 41 games before getting injured.

The Pelicans still harbor playoff dreams this season, they are four games back of current eight-seed Sacramento. In a vacuum that could be made up, but leaping past Portland and a getting healthy Utah is going to be much more difficult. The Pelicans need to make moves thinking about this roster for next season, and the seasons beyond that, not fighting to be the eight seed so they can see how good Golden State is firsthand. The big picture is what matters.

Moving Gordon (and Anderson) could be part of that, depending upon what comes available in return. Something to watch as we move toward the trade deadline.

“They outplayed us in every single aspect of the game,” said Manu Ginobili, who finished with eight points in the loss. “Aggression was one, shooting was another, defense, everything. It was the whole package. I don’t think there was one area in which it was close. They just outplayed us in every aspect. We were slow, not very sharp. It was no game.”

It’s a very Spurs thing to own up to this rather than break out a “we didn’t have Tim Duncan” or whatever lame excuse they could try to trot out. This was a beatdown, they owned up to it.

The good news for the Spurs is that this is one regular season game, if/when these teams meet in May this game will have no bearing.

It did lay out what San Antonio will need to do to hang with Golden State in a seven-game series — take care of the ball, slow the game down, and Aldridge is going to have to score on Draymond Green more efficiently. If you don’t think the Spurs are capable of that kind of turnaround, well, have you even watched the Spurs in the past 15 years? Count this team out at your own risk. You can be sure Steve Kerr knows better.

It was curious that the description of how Clippers’ All-Star Blake Griffinbroke his hand was an “undisclosed team-related incident.” That’s vague and led to a lot of speculation about who Griffin may or may not have punched, or what else might have happened.

Now we get some details from ESPN’s Michael Eaves — who if you didn’t know worked on the Clippers broadcasts in Los Angeles for years until his recent move to ESPN. Arash Markazi of ESPN adds some details, saying both parties have been sent back to Los Angeles.

#Clippers forward Blake Griffin injured his right hand after hitting a member of the team's equipment staff during an argument in Toronto

If this is true, it’s embarrassing for Griffin — who was not even suited up and playing for the Clippers in Toronto (he was expected to return Tuesday from his injured quad, but now will be out at least a few more weeks). I don’t what the two were fighting about, but apparently they two get along (as evidenced by the fact they were out to dinner together), according to Arash Markazi of ESPN.

For what it's worth: Griffin is good friends with this staff member. They routinely hang out off the court at home and on the road.

Not knowing the details, I will still say this: There is a pecking order around an NBA locker room, and it falls on the guys at the top of that to be generous of spirit. Griffin is an NBA superstar making $18.9 million in salary plus wheelbarrows full of cash from Kia and other endorsers, while team equipment staff have a low-paying job literally picking up the sweaty underwear of player — not to mention wet towels, smelly socks and the rest of it — off the floor. Then they do Griffin’s laundry for him. I’m hard pressed to have much sympathy for Griffin here, who needed to be the bigger man and walk away, or deal with this in a way that is not a major setback for himself and the Clippers. Griffin can’t put himself in a position to let this happen.

DeMarcus Cousins dropped 56 points on the Charlotte Hornets Monday, carrying Sacramento to within a last-second deep three of getting the win. Cousins was 21-of-30 shooting and did most of his damage in close, shooting 19-of-24 inside eight feet of the rim. Cousins was just too strong, too athletic for Charlotte to deal with. Yes, he also drained on three as well (on three attempts). Cousins also had 12 rebounds, but seven turnovers.

Charlotte’s Troy Daniels won the game in double overtime with his eighth three of the night.